Not Your Arranged Bride

Few Days Ago...The bar buzzed with late-night chaos. Laughter, drunken conversations, and the clink of glasses.Juniper moved between tables, balancing a tray in one hand. The dim lighting and stale smell of beer were nothing new to her. "Hey, gorgeous," a slurred voice called out. She didn't turn. She'd learned to ignore the drunks who thought the staff were fair game. "Don't walk away from me," the voice said again, sharper this time. A hand grabbed her waist, pulling her back. Juniper froze, her heart pounding. The man's breath reeked of beer as he leaned closer. "Let go," she said, her voice low but firm. "You're feisty," he chuckled, tightening his grip. "I like that." Juniper pulled her wrist free with a sudden jerk, glaring at him. "Back off." The man's grin disappeared, replaced by an angry sneer. "Who do you think you're talking to?" "I'm talking to someone who's had too much to drink," she shot back. "Go sit down before I call security." He slammed his hand on the

The morning light pierced through the heavy curtains of Wyatt's penthouse, striking his face with glare. He groaned, rubbing his temples as the pounding in his head intensified. Sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair, Last night was a disaster. He thought.The memories were blurry, but the one thing he couldn't forget was the news that had driven him to the bar his marriage to Sophia Carter.He dragged himself out of bed, every step feeling heavier than the last, and headed to the bathroom. Standing under the hot shower, Wyatt tilted his neck, wincing slightly.Something felt... off. As the water streamed down his body, his eyes caught sight of the scratch mark on his neck in the mirror. He leaned closer, examining it. "What the hell?" he whispered, frowning. Then his hand flew to his chest, searching for the familiar chain that always hung there. It was gone. "No, no, no," he growled, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist. He stormed into

Juniper’s breath caught in her throat, her mind racing to process what had just happened. The old woman’s accusation still echoed in her ears. You are not Sophia. Her blood ran cold as she stared back at Wyatt, his expression unreadable. The weight of the moment threatened to crush her. Just as she was about to stammer out an explanation, she heard a voice break through the tension."I'm sorry, she... she’s been confused lately," Sebastian’s calm voice floated into the room, and Juniper turned, desperate for a lifeline. He stepped in with a slight frown on his face, the tension in his posture only slightly easing the suffocating air between them. "This is our grandmother. She suffers from dementia and keeps forgetting things. She kept insisting on meeting Sophia, so I brought her here."Juniper’s head snapped back toward the old woman, her heart still hammering in her chest. The accusation still burned in her ears, but now it seemed somehow... distant. The old woman blinked at her, see